Speaker: Till F. Sonnemann (Geophysicist & PhD Candidate, University of Sydney)
Date: Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Time: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Venue: AS3, Level 6, SEAS Seminar Room (06-20)
Synopsis
For the first time, Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys have been used in Angkor on a broad scale. Nevertheless even a fast surveying method such as GPR has limitations considering the extent of Angkor’s archaeological park. GPR survey, conducted over three field seasons aimed at validating and and evaluating archaeological features known from maps and aerial images, also revealed ancient river beds, engineered channels and structures. What is visible to the eye is sometimes only a small part of a feature. This talk will cover the usefulness and weaknesses of GPR work, and interpretations drawn from the results. It will show results from some major enclosures including Banteay Srei, Chau Srei Vibol, and the latest discoveries at the Angkor Wat.
About the speaker
Till Sonnemann is currently working on his PhD in the Department or Archaeology at the University of Sydney. He received a degree in Geophysics from the University of Münster in Germany in 2005 where he wrote his diploma thesis at the DLR (German Aerospace Center) about lunar seismology. After short excursions into Volcanology and Photogrammetry he became interested in the possibilities of Ground-penetrating Radar (GPR) in Archaeology.
